Prince Albert business group supports opening private liquor store

In Prince Albert a debate over adding a privately-run liquor store is raging on.

Last month city council voted to reject the province's offer, over concerns about the city's high level of alcohol abuse.

But Tuesday the local chamber of commerce came out in favour.

"Though we understand completely the social impacts of excess liquor and drug consumption et cetera in the community we also view the expansion of liquor retailing into a private venue as an opportunity for business growth," said the chamber's chief executive officer Larry Fladager.

Report flags high alcohol consumption

Two years ago the multi-agency group Prince Albert Community Mobilization issued a report calling for an alcohol strategy. It cited figures from 2011 showing per capita spending on alcohol in Prince Albert was 56 per cent above the provincial average ($1,249 compared to $703). The dollar average was $731 per person in Moose Jaw, a city of comparable size to Prince Albert.

And, there is a huge problem with public drunkenness, according to figures from the 2011census.

In Prince Albert, arrests for public intoxication worked out to an eye-popping 7,993 per 100,000 population, compared with 983 for Saskatoon and 844 in Regina. (Total arrests were 2,808 in Prince Albert, 1,900 in Saskatoon and 1,876 in Regina.)

Chamber argues for consumer choice

However, Fladager said the chamber believes the addition of a high-end liquor store would lead to the creation of jobs, more consumer selection, investment and infrastructure potential, and a growth in the local tax base.

"And of course understand the social impact that liquor might have but are not blending the two issues," he added.

Mayor Gregg Dionne suggested the solution may be to replace an aging government-owned store with a brand new private one.

"Probably double the sales. And I think that will accomplish the goal that the government is looking for," Dionne explained.

He added: "But at the same time you cannot ignore the issues that we have in our community. And we believe that if they (the province) would address some of those issues then we would probably be more supportive of another liquor outlet."